Military attempts to dig out snow-covered Japan

A member of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force stands near a loader as it removes snow covering a public road in Marumori town, Miyagi prefecture, in this handout picture released on February 18, 2014 by the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force. (REUTERS/Japan Ground Self-Defense Force/Handout via Reuters)

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Japan Ground Self-Defense Force's UH-1 helicopter flies over an area stranded by heavy snow in Chichibu, Saitama prefecture, in this handout picture released on February 18, 2014 by the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force. (REUTERS/Japan Ground Self-Defense Force/Handout via Reuters)

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Members of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force and locals arrive at a tunnel covered by snow from an avalanche at Hinohara village, west part of Tokyo, in this handout picture taken and released on February 17, 2014 by the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force. (REUTERS/Japan Ground Self-Defense Force/Handout via Reuters)

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Members of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force remove snow covering a car parked at a residential area stranded by heavy snow in Yamanashi prefecture, west of Tokyo, in this handout picture taken on February 16, 2014 and released on February 17, 2014 by the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force. (REUTERS/The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force/Handout via Reuters)

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A man, right, walks out from a helicopter of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force as he is rescued from a residential area stranded by heavy snow in Yamanashi prefecture, west of Tokyo, in this handout picture taken on February 16, 2014 and released on February 17, 2014 by the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force. (REUTERS/Japan Ground Self-Defense Force/Handout via Reuters)

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A Japan Ground Self-Defense Force excavator removes snow covering a bridge at Hinohara village, west of Tokyo, in this handout picture taken and released on February 17, 2014 by the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force. (REUTERS/the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force/Handout via Reuters)

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A loader of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force removes snow covering a public road in Marumori town, Miyagi prefecture, in this handout picture released on February 18, 2014 by the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force. (REUTERS/Japan Ground Self-Defense Force/Handout via Reuters)

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Members of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force walk in an area stranded by heavy snow in Chichibu, Saitama prefecture, in this handout picture released on February 18, 2014 by the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force. (REUTERS/Japan Ground Self-Defense Force/Handout via Reuters)

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Members of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force drive along a road at Hinohara village, west of Tokyo, as they head to a site to remove snow in this handout picture taken and released on February 17, 2014 by the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force. (REUTERS/the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force/Handout via Reuters)

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A member of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force leads a loader that is removing snow covering a public road at Hinohara village, west of Tokyo, in this handout picture taken and released on February 17, 2014 by the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force. (REUTERS/the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force/Handout via Reuters)